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(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. F. PFISTER.

REPEATING WATCH.

'No. 368,002. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

INVENIIOR a-fiw BY Jlum WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets- Sheet 2.

A. F. PFISTBR.

REPEATING WATCH.

No. 368,002. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 3.'

A. F. PPISTBR REPBATING WATCH.

No. 368,002. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

WITNESSES: mvmpron:

@. ,wg -W V I BY l La/MW I ATTOR (No Model.) I 8 SheetS- Sheet 4;

' A. P. PPISTER.

REPEATING WATCH.

No. 368,002. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

ATTORNEYS.

u. PETERS. mq-mmn hm, Waihmglun n. c.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

A. P. PPISTER.

REPEATING WATCH.

No. 368,002. Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

INVENTOR WITNES 29 WM) 5 BY uawww ATTQRNEYS.

(No Model.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

A. F. PPISTER;

REPEATING WATCH. I

- Patented Aug. 9, 1887.

INVENTOR:

BY (M/m g ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 7. A. F. PFISTER.

, REPEATING WATCH. I No. 368,002. Batented Aug. 9, 18.87.

WITNES SES IEVEN TOR ATTORNEYS.

N, PETERS. Fholn-hlbograplnr, Wanhingion. uc

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 8.

A. P. PFISTER.

' REPEATING WATCH.

No. 368,002. Patented Aqg. 9, 1887.

7d flyfl WITNESSES: 4" e AEIVBNTOR:

6% My, 3 Wi BY ATTORNEYS. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMI F. PFISTER, OF LOOLE, SlVITZERLAND.

REPEATlNG-WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,002, dated August9, 188?.

Application filed May 6, 1886. Serial No. 201,980. (No model.l

To all whom it may concern.-

, Be it known that I, AMT F. PEIsTER, of Locle, Switzerland, haveinvented a new and Improved RepeatingWateh, of which the following is afull, clear, and. exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide new and useful improvements inrepeatingwatches, whereby the intervals between the Striking of thehours and of the quarters, also between the quarters and the minutes, orthe five minutes, according to the construction, will be alwaysconstant, the whistling of the train usually following the minutestrokes will be obviated, the repeating mechanism will not encroach uponthe movement, and other important advantages are secured.

The invention consists, principally, in a device for obstructing thehammers for a constant interval between the hour and the quarter,quarter and minute, 850., strokes; also in novel means for disengagingthe winding mechanism when the repeater is to be used.

The invention further consists in the arrangement of the gongs and thestriking mechanism under the dial, and, finally, of various parts anddetails and combinations of the same, as hereinafter fully described,and then pointed out particularly in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a face view showing the repeating mechanism of the watch inits usual position after striking, the case and dial being removed. Fig.2 is a similar view, showing the repeating mechanism about tostrike thehours. Fig. 3 is a view of part of the repeating mechanism about tostrike the quarter-hours. Fig. 4 is a similar view, the repeatingmechanism being about to strike the minutes. Fig. 5 is a rear viewshowing the movement. Fig. (i is a rear view, parts being removed toshow the devices for releasing the time-racks and also part of therepeating-train. Fig. 7 is a rear view, parts being removed to show themechanism for disengaging the mainspring from the winding mechanism.Fig. 8 is a crosssectional view on the line a; a", Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is across-sectional view on the line y y, Fig.

1. Fig. 10 is a detail view of theminute-rack.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the quarter-hour rack. Fig. 12 is a detailview of the hourrack. Figs. 13 and 14 are detail views of thehammerobstructing levers. Figs. 15 and 16 are detail views of thegong-hammers, and Fig. 17 is a detail view 01' the stepped pawl engagingthe time-racks.

A designates the winding and setting stem; A, its crown-wheel; B, aspur-wheel in gear therewith; O, a cog-wheel mounted loosely on themainspring-arbor O and engaged by the spur-wheel B.

(L is a curved piece held in an annular recess in the face of thecog-wheel C; O, a pawl pivoted to the end of the curved piece 0; C, anextension of the piece 0 forming the spring of the pawl O", and C" aratchet-wheel fixed on the mainspring-arbor C and engaged by the pawl 0The gearing described is essentially that nsually employed for windingup the mainspriug from the stem A. On the part of the arbor O projectingthrough the base-plate D of the works is fixed a second ratchet-wheel,D, Fig. 9, with which engages a spring-actuated pawl, D pivoted to theunder side of a large cogwheel, D, which is mounted loosely on the arborC, so that the cog-wheel D" and the repeating-train in gear therewith isrevolved by the inainspring, while the mainspring-arbor is free to turnin winding. The cog-wheel D engages with the pinion E, turning with thecog-wheel E on a stud proj eetin g from the baseplate D. The cog-wheel Eengages with the geanwheel E carrying the star-wheel E", the teeth ofwhich act upon the prongs F G of the hammers G F, which are pivoted uponstuds F G and are adapted to strike the circular wire spring-gouge F Gsecured atone end to the base-plate D and extending around the circularedge thereof, the base-plate being peripherally grooved, as shown, tobetter accommodate the gongs. The hammers F G are pressed against thegongs F G, when permitted by the teeth of the star-wheel E by springs F"G, acting upons pins or studs F on the hammers, and the hammers arecaused to rebound after striking by spring check-arms F G, acting on thesame pins as the springs F G*, so as to produce ringing blows.

The cog-wheel E carrying the star-wheel E engages with a pinion, H,fixed on the spindle H, which is mounted to revolve in the baseplate D,and a bearing, IF, secured to the hase'plate. The spindle ll. projectsthrough the bascplate and carries thereat a pinion in gear with theusual governor train, A by which the operation of the repeating-train isregulated. On the spindle H is rigidly mounted a two-toothed pinion, H,which cngages with and swings in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, thethree segmental racks 11K L, (shown detached in Figs. 10, 11, and 12,)formed on the ends of curved arms I K L, of

which the arms I L are pivoted on a stud, M, projecting from thebase-plate, and the arm K on a stud, M, on the base-plate. On the stem Hol'the two-toothed pinion H is also fixeda cross-piece, ]:I, havingbeveled ends, which engage a stud, I, on the upper rack, I, and serve asa stop to limit its motion, as well as its own rotation and that of thetrain of gearing connected therewith, as hereinafter clearly explained.

I is the minute'rack, K the fifteen-minute or quarter-hour rack. and Lthchour-raclc. The rack-arms l K L are provided with curved extensions1* 1' L", and the racks are pressed in the inverse direction of theirarrow, Fig. 2, before mentioned, and the extremities of their curvedextensions 1 K L into contact with the stepped edges of the usual timecams, 1C If, by the springs l." K L, which act on shoulders orprojections on the rackarms. The hour cam or snail L is provided withtwelve steps and turns on the stud M, with the starwheel L having twelveteeth.

\Vith the teeth of the star-wheel L engages a lug, M, fixed to the underside of the hour spur-wheel M or the quarter-snail K attached thereto,so that the star-whecl L is turned the distance of one tooth by eachrevolution of the hour-wheel M, and is held in such position by theheaded spring-pawl M entering the toothspaees of the star-wheel.

The quarter cam orsnail 1C, attached to the under side of the hour-wheelM, has four steps on its edge, and is engaged by the quarter-rackextension K as before stated. The hour spurwhecl M" engages with apinion, M, mounted to turn loosely on the stud M, and to the pinion M isattached the minute cam or snail l, the proportion of teeth of the wheelM and pinion M" being as four is to one, so that the minute-cam 1",which has fifteen steps, is ro tated four times for each revolutionofthe hourwhcel M, each step eorrespondin g to a minute of time.

\Vith the strikingraclcs I K L, as they are swung in the direction oftheir arrow by the rotation of the two-toothed pinion H, engages a pawl,N, (shown detached in Fig. 17,) piv oted to the basc-plate and heldnormally in engagement with the racks by the spring N. The pawl N isprovided with three stepped teeth, N N .N, of which the upper andshortest tooth, N, engages the minute-rack 1', the middle tooth, N,engages the duarterraek K, and the lower and longest forked tooth, N,the h0ur-rack L.

The last tooth-space of each rack K and L is cut deeper than the othertooth-spaces, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, so that as the racks I K Lare moved the distance of one tooth by a haltrevolution of thetwo-toothed pinion H" each rack is engaged successively by thecorresponding tooth, NN" N, of the pawl N, and is thus prevented fromswingingbaek between the contacts of the two teeth of the pinion II"'-that is, the tooth N engages with the hourrack, following up itsintermittent motion from the pinion H, and the remaining teeth, N Nbeing held meanwhile out of engagement with their respective racks fromtheir lesser lengths until the tooth l enters the last and deeptooth-space of the hour-rack. The tooth N then does not engage the rack,but allows the tooth N to engage its rack K, on entering the last deeptooth-space of which the teeth acts in a similar manner to permit theengagement of the tooth N with its rack L. Each rack I K L is thus swungin succession from its primary position, which is determined by theposition of its corresponding cam, lfKfL, in the usual manner to itsfinal position, as stated. Upon a stud, N fixed upon thebaseplate I),are pivoted two curved levers, O P. (Shown in detail in Figs. 13 and 11.)

The lever O is provided at one end with the wide straight edge 0,arranged in the path of a pin or stud, K", projecting from an endextension ofthe quarterraek K. The lever l" is also provided with thestraight end edge, 1?, in the path of a pin, L, fixed on an end e2:-tension of the honr-rack L. lhe lever O at its other end is providedwith the wide pro jection O, recess 0, and lug O, and the lever P withthe lug P", recess 1", shoulder l", and wide projection P, all arrangedto engage pins F G on the prongs F Got the striking-hammers F G, ashereinafter fully described.

The lovers 0 P, when disengaged, as in Fig. 2, are pressed lightlyagainst a screw or stop, 0", by springs O 1?, attached to the base plateor a bracket thereon, and acting on shoulders or projections formed onthe levers near their pivotal points.

In order to disengage the inainspring from the winding-stem A when therepeating-train is to be used, I employ the following arrangement.(Shown most clearly in Figs. 5, 7, and it.) A pin, 0, is attached to thepawl C, eugaging the ratehetwheel on the mainspring-arbor 0, projectsthrough a slot, 0, in the cogwheel 0, and rests against the periphery ofa loose ring, Q. The ring Q is placed within a flat ring, Q], mounted toturn slightly in a cireular recess formed in the plate Q" of the works,and is incloscd between the bottom of said recess and the cog-wheel (l,which rests on the fiat ring 0,. The flat ring Q provided with the threeinternal beveled teeth, (3,", which engage the beveled heads Q of thesprings Qj, which are secured at the bottom of the recess in the fixedplate Q. The flat ring Q is also provided with the two radial arms Q Q,which project at the edge of the works through slots Q Q in the edge ofthe plate Q, the slots being somewhat wider than the arms Q Q to permitthe before-mentioned rotative movement of the flat ring Q; and on anarm, Q of the ring, opposite the arms Q Q, is mounted to revolve theloose spurwheel R, which is constantly engaged with the spur wheel 0.The outer end of the ring-arm Q is bent transversely to the rim of theworks, then radially outward, as shown in Figs. 7-and 9, and its outerend is beveled for engagement by the beveled head R ota curved springR", attached to the circular-edge works in any usual way, and providedwith a push-button, Thus by pressing the button R the flat ring Q isturned in the direction of its arrow, Fig. 7, and the beveled edges ofits internal teeth, f, act upon the beveled heads Q of the fixed springsQ so as to press the several heads, Q, equally inward against the loosering Q, thus centering the same. The outer edge of the ring Q strikesand presses outward the pin 0, attached to the pawl 0 and disengages thesame from its ratehet-wheel O on the mainspringarbor, thereby throwingthe mainspring out of gear with the winding mechanism. By the samemovement of the flat ring Q and its arm Q the loose spur-wheel R isswung into gear with the spur-wheel It on the hand-arbor while remainingin gear with the wheel 0, so that the hands can be set by means of thewinding-stem A.

From the arm Q of the flat ring Q projects a pin, It, at right anglesthrough a recess in the works, as shown clearly in Fig. 9. frontprojecting end of the pin is engaged by the hook It and cam-edge R on anextension of the click R which is pivoted to the front of the base-plateD, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

XVhen the click R is swung toward the winding-ste1n A, asindieated indotted lines in Fig. 1, its cam-edge R acts upon the pin R on the arm Qto turn the ring Q, disengage the pawl O", and throw the winding-stem ingear for setting the hands, as before, and when the click is swung inthe inverse direction its book R engages the pin R and returns the pawlC and loose spur-wheel R to their normal position.

The click it is held in either of its two positions by the engagementofa pin, R, on the same with one of the beveled edges S S of the head ofthe spring S, fixed to the baseplate.

Near the beveled end of the arm Q of the flat ring Q, and in position tobe acted upon by the push-button Pu" simultaneously therewith, isarranged the beveled end T of a bent lever, T, Fig. 6, pivoted near saidbeveled end to the base-plate D, slotted to accommodate the gearing ofthe governor-train A as shown, and having the end of its longer armengaged with the forked end of a pivoted an" gle-lever, T". The straightend of the angle lever T is adapted to strike a pin, T projectingthrougha slot,T, in the base-plate, D, from the stepped pawl N, and press thesame outward The from its engagement with the striking-racks I K L. Thecross-piece or stop H on the twotoothed pinion H" being at such an anglewith the opposite teeth ofthe pinion H as to hold said teeth out ofengagement with the striking-racks when the stop H is in contact withthe minuterack stud I, as in Fig. 1. On operating the push-button R thepawl N is disengaged momentarily from the racks I K L, allowing them tobe returned by their springs 1. K L to the positions determined by theirtime cams or snails 1 K L, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The racks are thenturned by the repeating-train and pinion H and are stopped successivelyby the obstructing-levers O P and stop H, as hereinafterdescribed. theminuterack I, near the end of its movement, strikes the arm T of anangle-lever, T

pivoted to the base-plate D. The other arm, T of said angle-lever isformed with a head, T, which strikes the pin R which has been displaced,as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, by the action of the push-buttonR on the flat ring Q, as before stated, and returns said pin to itsnormal position, thereby turning the ring Q in the inverse direction,engaging the pawl C withits ratchet wheel G and disengaging the loosespur-wheel1t from the handarbor wheel R. The watch is thus automaticallyset for winding after the repeater has struck.

The arm T of the angle lever T is made thin and elastic to permit theclick R to be pushed forward for setting the hands without affecting theminute-rack in contact with the arm T of the angle-lever.

The operation of the obstructing-levers O P on the repeating mechanismis as follows: As before stated, when the push-button R is operated itacts simultaneously upon the beveled end T of the starting-lever T andthe beveled stepped pawl N, it alone is moved continuously forward bythe pinion H, the other racks returning after each slight impulse fromthe pinion to their primary position. Each tooth on the hour-rack Lcorresponds with a step on the hour-cam L and a tooth on the star-wheelL and the same is true with the racks IK and their cams or snails 1 KThe connect ing-gearing of the time-racks and the hammerreleasingstar-wheel E is so proportioned that a movement of each rack insuccession through the distance of one tooth occurs with each stroke ofthe hammers.

Let us assume that the time is four hours and twenty minutes when therepeater is struck.

The end of Then, the three racks being released by the push-button R",the hour-rack L is swung back by its actuating-spring through a distanceof four teeth, its extension L striking the fourth step of its cam orsnail L. The quarter-rack K is swung back through a distance of onetooth, and the minnterack I five teeth. The cross-piece or stop It beingleft free, the repeating-train is released, and both hammers between theengagements of the star-wheel E", with their prongs, are forced outwardby their actuating-springs F l". The obstructing-1evers O 1 being in theposition shown in Fig. 2, the pin F on the prong of the hammer 1* passesto the right of the projection O and lug 1- of the lovers and permitsthe hammer F to strike the gong F The hammer G, on the contrary, isprevented from striking the gong G" by its pin G coming in contact withv the projection I of thelever 1?, and thnsprodnces a dumb blow. Thehammer 1" thus strikes the gong F four times, or until the four teeth ofthe rack L have run out, when the pin L on the same strikes the straightedge I? of the lever P and sligljitly swings the same until the lug 1presents itself to thepin 1 on the hammer F, and prevents its impact onthe gong 1 while the wide projection I on the lever I still checks thepin G of the hammer G. The widths of the projection l and lug 1 beingproportioned so as to check the pins G F during the period of onetooth-space on the hour-rack, neither gong is sounded during thisinterval; but on the passage of the next rack-tooth the obstructinglcverl? is swung still farther until the recess 1" is presented to thehammer-pin F and the pin G is permitted to pass to the left of theprojection l? and into the recess 0 of the lever O, as yet unmoved,as'shown in Fig. 3, so that both hanr 1ners are free to strike. At thesame time the pawl N enters the last deep tootlrspace ofthe hour-rack Land no longer dogs the same, but engages the quarter-rack K, which isturned, as before stated, by the pinion ll. through distance of onetooth, the distance it was originally swung back. 130th hammers beingfree, they strike the gongs F G simultanconsly, or in qnck succession,so as to produce a single alarm, indicating one quarter-hour, and thenthe pin K" on the rack K strikes the lever O and turns the same untilthe projection 0* presents itself to the pin ll of the hammer F and thelug O to the pin G of the hammer G, so that both hammers are held fromimpact on their gongs for the period of one rack-tooth space, as before.On the passage of the next tooth of the rack Kits pin ii swings stillfarther the lever 0, so that while the wide proiection 0" still checksthe pin F of the hammer it, thepin G of the hammer G can pass to theleft of the lug O, as shown in Fig. 4, and the hammer G- is thus free tostrike. At the same time the quarter-rack 1i, having iinishcd itsmotion, is released, and the rack 11 is engaged by the pawl N, asbefore, so as to be turned the distance of its five teeth. Five blowsare thus struck by the free hammer G on its gong G, when the cross-pieceor stop H engages the stud on the rack T, and thus stops the train. Atthe same time the winding mechanism is ai'itoinatieally thrown in gearwith the mainspring, as before described. The exact timefour hours andtwenty minutes is thus struck, and the intervals between the series ofblows maintained constant by a proper proportioning of theobstructing-levers, constructed as specified.

As this mechanism for obstructing the hammers for constant intervals maywith equal advantage be applied to all rcpeatersas five minuterepeaters, &c., self-striking repeaters employing a separateactuating-spring for the repeating-train, and also clocks-11 do notlimit myself to the within-described application.

The novel arrangement of the gongs under the dial permits the use of amovement of equal size with that of ordinary watches of the samedimensions.

Having thus fully described. my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In arepcater, the combination,with striking-racks engaging asinglepinion and the re peating-train, of hamtrier-obstructing devicesoperated by said racks, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a repeater, the combination, with the striking-racks and therepeating-train operating them, of obstructing-lcvers actuated by saidracks and of the gong-hammers, substantially as shown and described.

I). in a repeater, the combination, with the time-racks and therepeatingtraiu,of a stepped pawl engaging the striking-racks and apushpieee for operating it, substantially as shown and described.

4-. In a repeater, the combination, with the striking-racks, a singlepinion engaging them, and the repeating-tradn, of a sprii'ig-actuatetilstepped pawl engaging the ti inc-racks, a pushpiccc, and operatingdevices connecting the push-piece with the stepped pawl, substantiallyas shown and described.

5. In a repeating-watch, the combination, with a ratchet-wheel on themainspring-arbor and a spring-pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel andprovided with a pin, of a toothed wheel surrounding the arbor of themainspring, a loose ring within the toothed wheel, and springs actedupon by the toothed wheel for pressing the loose ring against the pin onthe spring-pawl, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. In a repeatingwateh, the combination, with a ratchet-wheel on thearbor of the main- Spring and a spring-pawl engaging the ratchetwhecl,ofan armed toothed wheel surrounding the mainspring-arbor, loose ringwithin the toothed wheel and acting on the springpaw], springs engagedby the teeth of the said wheel.

for operating the loose ring, and a push-button acting on an arm of thetoothed wheel, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a repeating-watch, the combination, with a cog-wheel and aratchet-wheel on the arbor, of the mainspring, a pawl on the cogwheeland engaging the ratchet wheel, an armed toothed wheel surrounding themainspring-arbor, and a loose ring operated by the toothed wheel andacting on the pawl, of a loose spur-wheel engaging the cog-wheel on themainspring-arbor and mounted on one arm of the toothed Wheel, a pin onanother arm of the same, and a hook-click arranged to engage said pin,substantially as shown and described.

8. The combination, with the pivoted timeracks I K L, the tw0-toothedpinion I-I engaging them, and the repeatingtrain, of a springacted pawl,N, having the stepped teeth N N N the pusl1-button R, and operatingdevices connecting the same with the pawl N, sub stantially as shown anddescribed.

9. The combination, with the pivoted timeracks I K L, the two-toothedpinion H, the repeatingtrain,and the stepped pawl N, of the pins K L onthe racks K L, curved levers O P, having cam-edges O P and pivoted at N,and of the hammers F G, operated by the repeating-train and providedwith studs acted upon by the levers O P, substantially as shown 7 anddescribed.

by the pins K L and provided with lugs or projections O" O and recess 0and lugs or projections P P and recess 1?, respectWely, the spring-actedstriking'hammers F G, having pins F Ghand the gongs F Gr,substantiallyas shown and described.

11. In a repeating-watch, the combination,

with the lex er T, having a beveled head, T,

the rack-pawl N, devices operating the pawl N from the lever T, themainspring-pawl G", and the ring Q, having a beveled arm Q and devicesfor disengaging the pawl O, of the spring R having beveled head It andpushbutton R substantially as shown and described.

12. In a repeating-watch, the combination, with the pawl-disengagingring Q,havingarms Q Q, and the pin It on the arm Q, of the pivotedangle-lever T, having the spring-arm T, the time-rack I, and therepeating-train, substantially as shown and described.

13. The combination of the mainspringarbor O, the ratchet-wheel O on thesame,the spring-pawl O", the pin 0 of the same, the loose ring Q, thesprings Q, having beveled heads Q, the ring Q, having internal teeth, Q,and arms Q, Q, and Q the loose spurwheel R on the arm Q, the hand-arborcogwheel R", the pin R on the arm Q, the click R having hook 1%,and thespring pnsh-bntton R, substantially as shown and described.

AMI F. PFISTER.

itiiesses:

ALOIS MINUTTE, HENRI SANDOS.

